Background
Created in 2018, the Nexus Initiative is a government-owned, cross-regional initiative of like-minded governments committed to defending and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including its strong links to gender equality, at the United Nations (UN).
The Nexus Initiative is supported by a small secretariat that is independently hosted at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
Terms of the Consultancy
Purpose:
The purpose of this consultancy is to engage a senior-level expert with extensive experience in the global SRHR landscape to guide donor reporting and engagement; support and ensure adherence to donor compliance requirements (programmatic and financial); provide senior-level strategic advice to the executive leadership of Nexus; and provide senior-level strategic engagement on special projects for Nexus.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Develop and finalize donor reports for clarity and coherence by working with the Secretariat team in accordance with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework.
- Guide the Secretariat team to improve MEL practices and monitoring.
- Coordinate with the Nexus Director and Financial Officer to guide and support the adherence to donor reporting and financial compliance requirements.
- Provide senior-level strategic advice and support to the Director of Nexus on programmatic, operational, and governance matters.
- Offer seasoned insights and guidance to help Nexus navigate an increasingly complex multilateral landscape – including UN80 Reform.
- Provide senior-strategic level engagement and support on special projects.
Selection Criteria
Education:
- A bachelor’s degree in international affairs, political science, global health, or a related field is required.
- A master’s degree in international affairs, global health, public administration, or a related field is highly desired.
Professional experience:
- A minimum of 12 years of experience working in the international development sector for a non-profit organization, a UN agency, or a government (with government experience operating as a donor being highly-preferred).
- A minimum of 8 years of experience working on multilateral and bilateral affairs, with diplomatic and government relations experience at the United Nations.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience working on global health projects, with an emphasis on SRHR.
- A minimum of 4 years of experience engaging in governance matters, donor reporting (as a grant recipient or a donor, ideally), and roles that required a high degree of understanding of donor compliance support.
- A minimum of 4 years of executive-level experience working as a senior leader in a government role (ideally in a donor context) or having executive level experience at a UN agency, or non-profit organization.
- A minimum of 2 years of experience and familiarity with negotiations and protocol matters related to the United Nations.
- Experience leading and executing MEL for international development projects.
Demonstrated skills and competencies:
- Strong executive-level sensibilities related to donor engagement, bilateral engagement, and multilateral engagement.
- Proven skills drafting or editing high-level strategic and governance-facing reports.
- Strong experience advising senior leadership, boards, or intergovernmental bodies.
- Strong diplomatic skills related to intergovernmental cooperation.
- Excellent analytical writing and synthesis skills.
- Superior interpersonal skills and team player sensibilities.
- Superior communication skills, including excellent writing skills.
- Strong project management, coordination, planning, and organizational skills.
- Strong attention to detail and record keeping.
- Proven problem-solving experience, creativity, and flexibility.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to work on CET and ET time to liaise with colleagues in Geneva and New York.
- Ability to multitask and continually evaluate priorities.
- Ability to communicate effectively with multinational stakeholders.
- Proven experience dealing with diplomatic matters and sensitive information with a high-degree of sound ethical judgement and discretion.
A commitment to safeguarding practices.
Language skills:
- Written and oral fluency in English is required.
- Strong command of at least one other UN language is highly desirable.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are requested to submit the following documents to [email protected]by COB, Tuesday 24 February 2026—with the Subject Line, “Senior Consultant”.
- A maximum of two pages expression of interest outlining relevant experience and suitability for the consultancy.
- Professional CV with full contact details.
- Three professional references – contact details (email addresses and phone numbers) of references.
- Proposed consulting fees – please note the day rate (inclusive of 8 hours) quoted in USD, EUR, CHF, or GBP. The fees should exclude VAT or expenses.
